Knitting machine



V. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE A ril 10-, 1945.

Filed April :5, 1941 7 ll Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR v Vilma! Lumbar 1' BY ATTORNEY April 10,1945, v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5. 1941 0 m n mow N T R mW m af e A I. W W M W 4 m v April 10, 1945- v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1941 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 l INVENTOR.

V/WZ'FIIY/ Z en; &m-di 7 M W A TTOR NE Y April 10, 1945.

. V. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1941 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY 7 M MR7 ATTORN EY April 10, 1945. v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1941 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 wk r R M 0 5% mm .N iv w WW 0/ VI B ATTORNEY April 10, 1945- v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1941- 11 SheetsSheet 6 ,vaflrla K ATTORNEY KNITTING MACH NE April 10, 19,45.

. Filed April 3, 1941 INV R; l/nmen? Lbm l BY ll heet et 7 April 10, 1945. v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1941 11 Shee ts-Sheet s L. 3 W W INVENTOR.

Vince/7'2 Zomardz' April 10,1945. v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1941 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR Vince/z! Lombardi ATTORNEY April 10, 1945. v: LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1941 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 r W H Tm N 3 mm m! n 6? .m VB

April 10, 1945. v. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1941 11 Sheets-Sheet l1 W MQ ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT 2,373,126 OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Vincent Lombardi,

Garden City, N. Y., assignor to Lombardi Knitting Machine 00., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 3, 1941, Serial No. 386,531

27 Claims.

exemplified hereinafter and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of knitting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view; Fig. 2a is a fragmentary sectional view along the line a:-:c of F .1;

Fig. 3 is a larger-scale fragmentary view look- H ing outwardly from within the yarn-guide supporting annulus and the top of the needle cylinder, with which a schematic showing is combined; i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view looking downwardly and inwardly at the yarn-guide operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail View of a control bracket adapted for use therein;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the yarn guide operating mechanism of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a schematic showing illustrating one form of operation of the selective means and the yarn guides;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view looking outwardly at a portion of a modified form of machine;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing another modificaticn;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a the cam track; Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view showing further modifications; 1

Figs. 12a and 12b are fragmentary plan views of the machine of Fig. 11, there being included a diagrammatic view showing a type of needle operation;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view along the line I3-l 3 of Fig. 12a;

Fig. 14 is a similar view along the line M-M of Fig. 127);

Fig. 15 is a perspective viewof a yarn guide of the type shown in Figs. 11-14; and

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary top view illustrating the operationsof the yarn guide of Figs. 11-15 in portion of an instance where this would pass between raised needles during its swing.

In my copending application Serial No. 254,580, filed February 4, 1939, Patent No. 2,231,673, issued February 11, 1941, there is exemplified a form of knitting machine wherein yarn is fed back and forth into position to be received by a limitednumber of needles. The present invention in certain of itsaspects is directed to the provision of means whereby such operations may I be simplified, the design capacity of the machine increased, the smoothness and certainty of operation under varying conditions improved, and supplemental operations efiectively included; also to the provision of machines wherein yarn may be supplied to a group of needles of limited extentin a highly efficient, effective and satisfactory manner, and to theprovision of machines, mechanisms and elements of a variety of improved characters. The present invention also contemplates the provision of improved knitting methods.

While the invention in certain of its more specific aspects is directed to the provision 01' improved types of circular knitting machines and is exemplified in connection with a circular knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, the invention in various of its broader aspects may be embodied in circular knitting machines of any well known type, including cylinder machines,

dial machines, and cylinder-and-dial machines, and also, in certain instances, on flat knitting machines; and may also be embodied in machines wherein the needle bed is rotatable or otherwise movable and certain of the other parts stationary, or wherein the needle bed is stationary and wherein certain of the other parts revolve about or otherwise move along said bed.

The invention, moreover, while exemplified in connection with a latch-needle machine, is in many of its aspects, equally applicable to a springneedle machine, or to a machine having other types of needles.

In the drawings, rotating parts are crosshatched with the lines running from the lower left to the upper right, and the stationary parts are cross-hatched with the lines running from the upper left to the lower right.

The form of machine exemplified in Figs. 1 through 6 comprises a needle bed which, in the present instance, is in the form of a stationary needlebed in the form of a cylinder 5, having a series of vertical slots 6 in its outer surface. In each of suita'bleones of these slots (of all of them in the ,present instance) there is disposed a latched needle I mounted for independent sliding movement in a direction lateral of the bed 5. Secured to the needle cylinder 5 is a sinker bed 8, in the slots 9 of which are disposed a series of sinkers II) which are of conventional form and which are operated by a rotating sinker cam ring ll, which is freely supported on the bed 8. The needles are operated by means carried by a rotating unit l2. From this unit there extends an adjustable arm 13 by means of which the sinker cam ring I l is driven.

Carried from the rotatable unit l2 by posts l4 1 is a rotatable table or ring l5 having an inner ledge 16 which freely supports an annulus H which may be held stationary with respect to the cylinder 5, or may be moved independently of the rotatable unit l2, and which serves to carry a series of bobbins l1 and of limited-extent yarnfeeds [9. The annulus I1 is prevented from rotating with the rotatable unit by means of a gear arrangement comprising an annular gear 18 on the annulus l'l meshing with a. pinion l9 fixed on a shaft 20 journaled in brackets 2| carried from the posts [4. Also fixed to the shaft 20 is a pinion 22 of the same size as pinion l9 and meshing with an annular gear 23 of the same size as gear l8 and formed on a ring 24 carrying brackets 25 which are adapted to be held stationary or shifted as desired by mechanism hereinafter to be described. The ring 24 is freely sup ported by an annulus 26 which is carried by the brackets 2| and which carries a bobbin-supporting unit 21 which rotates therewith. Yarn from each of a plurality of bobbins 28 on the unit 21 is conducted by suitable means to eyelets 29 and 30 inside the ring 28, thence to eyelets 3| and 32 fastened on brackets on ring and thence thru an eyelet 33 to a main yarn feed 34, a plurality of which (eight in the present instance) are mounted on the sinker cam ring I I. It will be appreciated, however, that in certain instances the main yarn feeds may be omitted, and only the yarn-feeds I9 employed. Each of the limited-extent yarn-feeds l9 consists of a member extending generally downwardly from an arm 35 and mounted for angular adjustment thereon by means of a set screw 35'. The arm 35 is mounted for rotary movement in a horizontal plane on an axis running substantially thru the line of the needles, by means of a hollow shaft 36 on which one end 31 of the arm 35is secured, and which is journaled in the annulus l1 and may also, if desired, be journaled in an overlying annulus 39 supported from I! by posts 40 serving to hold these annuli together. Each shaft 36 is formed with a supporting shoulder 42. v

The needles are equipped with butts 43 and are adapted to be fully advanced by means of a cam 44 prior to thepassage ofeach main yarn feed 34. Both the cams 44 and the main yarn feeds 34 are, in the present instance, removably mounted so as to be omitted or replaced as deed and operating in the manner disclosed in detail in my Patent No. 1,792,647, dated February 1'7, 1931 (the form illustrated in Figs. 1-13 of said patent being the form exemplified herein).

In order to retract the needles there are provided a plurality of cams 49', one of these cams being provided after each main yarn feed, and one being provided to retract the needles after a yarn from a. feed 19 has been fed or might have been fed to needles advanced by the cam 41, pursuant to a selection by the selecting mechanism. The cam arrangement at the main yarn feeds is shown in Fig. 2, the cam arrangement at the points of yarn guide operation being shown in Fig. 2a. It is to be noted that, as shown, the cam 41 is of such height as only to raise the needles to tucking position (so that, with suitable selection by the selecting mechanism, to cause, for example, every other needle, or every third or further spaced needle, or two out of three, two out of four, or three out of four needles, etc., to be partially advanced to receive yarn without casting, the needles will act to lay-in rather than knit the auxiliary yarn). All of the cams 44, as exemplified, are arranged to cause the main yarns to be knitted. However, by providing means (such, for example, as long, and short butts on the needles and suitable cams at suitable points) desired ones of the main yarns may be laid in without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. In the present instance, there is provided a cam 41 and an associated retracting cam 49' between each of the main yarn feeds so that a main yarn feed will pass and the main yarn be knitted on tlte needles elevated by the cam 44 after each retraction of the needles subsequent to an operation of a cam 41.

As above set forth, the brackets 25 are adapted either to be held stationary, in which case the annuli I1 and 39 will maintain their position with respect to the'needle cylinder so that an individual yarn feed 19 will always encompass the sired, and the other operating cams are likewise I removably mounted In order to select needles to be advanced for the incorporation of yarn from the feeds 19, there is provided in association with some or all (all in the present instance) of the needles, individual needle jacks 45, swingable between an outer position as shown in Fig. 2 wherein their butts 46 will be engaged by a cam 41, and an inner position in which their butts will not be engaged by this cam. In order to move the jacks to an outer position, there is provided in advance of each cam 41 a cam 48"driven to rotate with the rotating unit 12; and in order to selectively move these jacks to an inner position between the times of passage of the cam 48 and of the cam 41, there isprovided a selecting mechanism, including drums 49, and constructsame needles during its swing; or to be shifted, in which case the annuli I1 and 39 will be shifted thru the medium of the gearing Iii-23 so as to permit the swing of a yarn feed I!) to encompass different needles at difierent times. Due to the operation of this means, diagonal and other varying designsmay be effectively incorporated in the fabric produced. Various means may be utilized to effectuate such shifting, the particular means exemplified being that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,231,673, issued February 11, 1941, and comprising an annulus 483 from which the brackets 25 extend inwardly, and which is formed with external gear 409 meshing with a pinion 410 fixed to a shaft 4| l which is journaled in the bracket 86 and which has fixed thereto a gear 4|2 meshing with a small gear 4|3 carrying a large gear 4M which meshes with a worm M5 on a shaft .4l6 carrying a pair of ratchet wheels 4H and M8, the teeth of which are disposed in opposite directions as indicated in Fig. 2. A pawl 4 l 9 is provided in association with the wheel 4H, and an oppositely directed pawl 420 is provided in connection with the ratchet wheel M8. The pawls 419 and 420 are each fixedly secured on a rod 42l which is mounted, in a manner hereinafter described, for rotative movement pursuant to the positioning of a link 422 which is pivotly connected at 423 to a link 424 which in turn is pivotly connected at 425 to an operating arm 426 which is pivoted at 421. The link 424 is composed of two telescoping members nonseparably connected in a telescoping manner tion of the lever 44L and normally held in extended relationship by a spring 428 against the pressure of which the pawls may be lifted as they slide over the teeth. The arm 426 is normally swung in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 2, by, means of a spring 429 and is adapted to be swung in a clockwise direction by projections on a pattern chain 430. The pattern-chain sprocket 436 is rotated relatively slowly when compared with the linear speed of rotation of the unit l2 by suitable means a number of which are known to the art.

The arm 426 is formed With a nub 431 having a cam surface 438 of such nature that the arm will be lifted as a projection on the pattern chain 430 moves under the nub 431. The pattern chain carries high projections 439 adapted to move the arm 426 to the position shown in dotted lines and low projections 440 adapted to move the arm 426 to the position shown in dot-and-dash; lines. It will be noted that both types of projection are made of varying extent longitudinally of the chain so that they will be effective for greater or lesser periods when the chain is moving normally. I The rod 42| is rotatably carried on one end of a lever 4M, which-is rotatably mounted on the shaft. MB. This lever is given an oscillating movement by means of an eccentric 442, the yoke 443 of which is freely connected to the other end of the lever 44|. at 444. The eccentric 442 is keyed to a shaft445 which is rotated from the rotating unit I2 by means of gearing 445. The lever 44! will accordingly be given an oscillating movement. If the rod MI is in the position shown in dot-and-dash lines, the ratchet Wheels 4|! and 4|8 will not be effected by the oscilla- When, however, the rod 42| is in the position shown in dotted lines, the pawl 426 will act against the teeth of the ratchet wheel M8 to advance the wheel one tooth in a clockwise direction for each rotation of the shaft 445; and when the rod 42| is in the position of Fig. 2', the pawl 4 I9 will act. to advance the ratchet Wheel 4|! in a counter-clockwise direction one tooth-for each rotation of the shaft445.

Each shaft 66 carries. on its upper enda pinion 50, and in order to rotate each yarn guide 19 there is'provided in the present instance a swingable bracket| carrying an interior arcuate gear 52 meshing with thegear 56, and a swingable bracket 53 carrying an external arcuate gear 54 meshing with the pinion 59. The brackets 5| and 53 are rotatably mounted on a post 55 carried on the stationary annulus As will be seen, when the bracket 5| is swung in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 4), the pinion 5|] and the yarn guide |9 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and the bracket 53 will be swung in a clockwise direction. Conversely, when the bracket 53 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, the pinion 56 and the yarn guide I9 will be rotated in a clockwise direction and the bracket 5| swung in a clockwise direction. In order that swinging movements may be imparted to the swingable brackets 5| and 53, each of them carries an actuating arm adapted to extend into the path of movement of cams which are mounted on a rotatable table I5, and in order that difierent ones of the brackets 5| and different onesof the brackets 53 may be selectively operated, difierent ones of these brackets carry arm portions in diiferent positions. In the present instance; each bracket 5| carries an operating arm 56 adapted to project into the path of cammovement when this bracket has been swung in a clockwise direction, and each bracket 53 carries an operating arm 5'1 adapted to project into a path of cam movement when this bracket has been swung in a clockwise direction. Each arm 56 and each arm 5'! has its outer portion so formed that" it will be'solid in certain of four vertically spaced positions and will be cutaway in the certain other of said positions. For example, in Fig. 4 the arm 56 of the left-hand one of the two brackets illustrated is shown solid in the uppermost position and cut away in the three lowermost positions, and the arm 5! thereof is shown cut away in the two uppermost positions and in the lowermost position and solid in the remaining position; and the arm 56 of the right-hand one of the two brackets illustrated is cut away in its uppermost and two lowermost positions and solid in the remaining position, and the arm 5? is cut away in the two uppermost positions and the lowermost position, and solid in the remaining position. While each of these arms is shown. as solid in only one of the four positions, both or either of them may be solid in two, three or all four of the positions, depending upon the action desired by the particular yarn guide I9 controlled thereby,

For the operation of the swinging brackets 5| and 53 through the medium of their arms 56 and 51, respectively, in a selective manner, there are provided at suitable points on the rotating table 5 a series of sets of four'-=cams 59 adapted to be selectively positioned so as to contact an outer portion of the arm 56 in one oranother of the four positions in which .these outer portions may the four positions in which these outer portions may be solid. Each set of cams is removably positioned at a point such that its operation will not interfere with the operation of any of the main yarn feeds. In order to provide for the movement of the yarn guides l9, as hereinafter to be described, each of the earns 58 and 59 is adapted to be placed in any one of three positions: (1) an innermost position in which it will impart a full swinging movement to a swingable bracket; (2) an intermediate position in which it will impart a partial swinging movement to a swingable bracket; and (3) an outermost position in which it will not contact a swingable bracket. In order that the swingable bracket and the pinion and yarn guide will remain in a position into which it is swung or rotated, each brack et 5| isformed with three notches 6B, and there is carried by the annulus I! a spring 6| adapted to bear against the outersurface of the bracket 5| and to seat in any notch 60 which is juxtaposed with its outer end.

Each of the cams 58 and 59 is formed with a pair of slots 62 and 63, which are respectively adapted to slide past small-diameter portions of posts 64 and 65 carried by the rotatable table I 5, and each of these cams is also formed with a notch 66 in which there is set a head 61 on a lever 68- centrally pivoted on a post 69 on the table l5. Each head 6'! is urged outwardly by a spring 10 extending from its lever on the same side of the post 69 as the head El, and on the other side of the post 69 the lever is formed with a portion ll adapted to be urged outwardly so as to swing the head inwardly by a nub 12 on a disk 13 removably mounted on a post 14 carried on the table IS. The disks I3 are interchangeable and displaceable, and each carries one or more suitably disposed nubs. After the discs have been suitably assembled on the post 14 they are keyed with a ratchet 15 which is adapted to be moved forward one notch by a pawl 16 at suitable times in the operation in accordance with setting mechanism hereinafter to be described. A plurality of sets of cams 58 and 59 are provided, the arrangement of discs 13 on the different posts 14 being similar or different depending on the operation desired. Certain of the nubs 12 will be'short nubs and certain of the nubs will be long nubs. When a long nub is in contact with an end ll of a lever 68, the corresponding cam 58 or 59 will be thrust to an innermost position. When a short nub is in contact with an end 1|, the corresponding cam will be thrust inwardly to its intermediate position, and when no nub is in contact with the end H, the corresponding cam will be held outwardly by a spring 10. It will thus be seen that by suitable arrangement of the disks 13 and by suitable positioning of the solid portions of the arms 56 and 51, a wide range of selective action may be had. It is to be noted that the swingable brackets and 53 are removably secured on theposts 55 by means of screw bolts so that these may be readily replaced by similar elements having arms with solid portions differently positioned.

Each pawl To is spring-pressed against its ratchet 15 and is pivotally supported from a horizontal rod is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in a guideway 19 secured to a bracket on ring l5. Each rod 18 is provided with a spring 86 tending to move it outwardly and with a shou1- der 8| to limit its outward movement. The outer end of each rod extends outwardly of its bracket so as to permit the same to be thrust inwardly on contact with a cam 82, which is mounted for vertical sliding movement between an upper position in which it will thrust the rod inwardly sufficiently to advance the ratchet one notch, and a lower position in which it will not contact the rod, the cam 82 being carried on a square rod 83 mounted for vertical movement in plates 34 and 85 secured to a fixed bracket 86. The rod is formed with a shoulder 81 which is adapted to ride on one end of a bell crank lever 88 from the other end of which there extends a link 89 to one end of a second bell crank'lever 99 carrying at its other end a link 9| adapted to be actuated by nubs 92 on a pattern chain 4|, driven by suitable means including gearin 4| in the manner well known in the art.

As will be seen, when a nub 92 lifts the lower end of the link 9|, the inner end of the ball crank 88 will be elevated so as to move the cam 82 into the path of movement of the outer ends of the rods 18. When, on the other hand, there is no nub 92 beneath the link 9|, the cam 82 will be in the position shown, and the rods 18 will be held outwardly by their springs so that the rachets 15 will not be operated and the nubs 12 will remain in position to permit production of the patterns throughout a desired number of rotations of the machine.

The relative number of the active teeth on the gears 52 and 54 with respect to the number of teeth on the pinion is such that when either of the swingable elements 5| or 53 is swung to its full extent, the pinion 5D and the yarn guide |9 will complete two rotations and when either of the swingable elements 5| or 53 is swung to one-half its extent, the pinion 5B and the yarn guide It will complete a single rotation.

It is to be observed that while in the exemplified construction the short nubs on the disc 13 are of such extent and the central notching 60 on the swingable element 5| is so placed as to provide for a complete rotation of the pinion 58 and the yarn guide |9 when acam 58 operates from an intermediate position, that it is not necessary in most instances that the yarn guide I! make a complete rotation; it being merely necessary that it move in an are sufficiently greater than a semi-circle so that it will swing from a point behind the line of needles and return to a point behind the line of needles at the end of its swing. It is to be noted that the axis of each yarn guide I9 is at the rear of the line of the needles.

The yarn guides l9 are each adapted to be in an innermost position at the rear of the needle bed when at rest (1. e., when the springs 6| contact any one of the notches 60); and to swing circularly from this position behind the line of the needles and outwardly, thence in front of the line of needles still outwardly, thence in front of the line of needles while moving inwardly, and thence behind the line of needles when moving inwardly. Accordingly, when certain needles are elevated inside a circle described by the yarn guide in its movement, yarn will be drawn in front of these needles then against them and about them, so that the yarn will be fed to the needles. If the yarn guide makes one rotation, a single length of auxiliary yarn will be fed to the needles, and if the yarn guide completes two rotations while the needles are elevated, a double length of auxiliary yarn will be fed to them.

The yarn guides l9, as exemplified, are shown as mounted and as adjusted so as to encompass slightly over 30 needles. It will be appreciated, however, that the adjustment may be varied to encompass a limited but varying number of needles. In certain instances, machines embodying the invention may be provided with yarn guides having a swing encompassing from 60 to or more needles depending on the closeness of the needles, the arrangement of the various operating parts, the size of the machine, and other factors.

It is to be noted that, so long as the auxiliary yarn is fastened into the fabric before a rotation of the yarn guide, the feeding action will be performed regardless of the direction of rotation of the yarn guide. Thus with the mechanism shown, if the parts are in a position such that the end of spring 6| engages the central notch 60, the action either of a cam 58 (when in an intermediate position) on a solid portion of an arm 56 or the action of a cam 59 (when in an intermediate position) on a solid portion of an arm 51 will serve to impart to a yarn guide IS a single rotation which will feed yarns to needles elevated within the circle of movement of the yarn guide. Likewise, after a bracket 5| has been swung from the posi-- tion in Fig. 4 through its full length to impart a double rotation to the yarn guide, and the needles operated to incorporate into the fabric the double strand of yarn thus fed, and certain needles elevated again, a full swinging movement of the associated element 53 will operate the yarn guide Is to feed a double strand of yarn to the needles while swinging in the other direction. It will be observed that when the yarn guide is swung v I through a double rotation, there will be uncaught lengths of yarn at the rear of the fabric. The presence of such lengths may be desirable where these are drawn tight to provide puckers or bulges formed. In this type of operation, alternate yarn in the fabric, the yarn-tension'ing' means; shown at 38, being made particularly'strong when this is desired. In instances where'the presence of uncaught lengths of yarn is undesirable, however, the exemplified mechanism permits all the yarn fed from a yarn guide to be fed to the needles by merely having a suitable cam 58 in an intermediate position so that the element 5| will be swung half way, and after the yarn thus fed has been incorporated into the fabric by having a suitable cam 59 in an intermediate position so as to effectuate the return of the yarn guide to again perform a feeding operation while suitable ones of the needles are in position to receive said yarn.

At the bottom of Fig. 3 there are illustrated schematically the resultants of a series of yarnguide movements, these being shown with respect to each of the three yarn guides illustrated in the the left as it passes in front of the needles in course 94, and by the movement of each yarn guide to the right as it passes in front of the needles in course 95. In course 96 alternate or otherwise spaced needles of a groupof about thirty needles will have been partially advanced for the reception of yarn during a swinging movement of the central yarn guide I9 to the left as it passes in front of the needles, the left and right yarn guides being unselected in this course. ,In course 91 suitably spaced needles of a group of about thirty needles, including at least one needle overlapping with the needles partially advanced inncourse 96 will be raised to partially advanced position for reception of the yarn during swinging movement of each of the left and right yarn guides to the left as they pass in frontof the needles. The central yarn guide I9 is unselected during this period. In course 98 the operations of course 96 are repeated except that the central yarn guide passes to the right in front of the needles, and in course 99 the operations of course 91 are repeated except thatthe outer yarn guides pass to the right. I

It will be appreciated that a wide number of different types of designs may be incorporated in a fabric by suitable selections of the needles and of the yarn guides, and that design yarns may be thereby suitably incorporated in a fabric composed mainly of weftyarn either by being laid in,

by being knitted in along with the weft yarn, by

being knitted in place of certain loops of the weft yarn, by being caught in at certain points and floated between them or by being arranged-with guides are operated in alternate courses and the variability of the design is governed entirelyby the needle control. While only a single swingof each yarn guide operated is exemplified, it will be appreciated that all or some of the yarn guides may be given a'double swing whenever desired. It is also to be noted that while the machineis arranged for the catching in of the yarn from the yarn guides without forming loops of the same, the invention in its broader aspects is readily adapted for the knitting of yarn into loops, being only necessary to employ higher cams ll for this purpose. operation, it-is contemplated that a main yarn feed will pass, and loops of the yarn therefrom be formed, at each course indicated, the operation occurring between successive yarn-guide operations. I

In Fig. "1, the arcuate lines a through 7' indicate the catching of the yarn on the needles in successive courses of yarn-guide operation, and the arcuate lines a to 7 indicate the needle selec-- tion which results in such operation. Where one of these lines is shownextending' outwardly away from the center of the are, i. e., upwardly or leftwardly, it indicates that alternate needles are selected thruout such span. When a portion of the line is in a downward or rightward position it indicates that no needles are selected. The circles represent the overlapping swing ofyarn It will be seen that'in courses a and c alternate ones of thirty-two needles are selected for reception of yarn from yarn guides L, N, P, and- R; and the remaining twenty-eight of a group of sixty needles left unselected. A similar selection occurs in course I),

except that alternate needles are advanced for reception of yarn from guides M, O, Q, and S; and it is the middle twenty-eight of the thirtytwo needles from whicha-lternate ones were selected in course a which are now left unselected.

The result is that groups of sixteenindividually spaced needles are elevated in each course with the end needles of the group in successive courses overlapping. In the formation of course a, yarn guides L, N, P, and R, are swung so as to draw out yarn sothat it will extend from left to right. In'course c the same yarn guides are swung so as to draw out yarn from right to left. In the .formation of course I), the yarn guides M, O, Q,

aweft yarn in other manners. Likewise, various types of fabric may be formed of the design yarn alone.

Besides various designs such as polka dots, circles, squares, diamonds and the like, various more complicated designs may be obtained and striped effects may be produced. Diagonal striping may be efiectuated either by an operation of the shifting mechanism acting through the means including the gear M38 and the brackets 25 or by an overlapping of design portions formed by adjacent yarn guides.

There is exemplified schematically in Fig. 7 one form of operation of a machine, such as illustrated in Figs. 1-6, whereby a plaid design is and S areswung so as to draw out yarn from right to left. The yarn guide operations are'repeated in succeedingcourses, but it is to be noted that in courses d and f it is only two spaced needles, disposed at the left of the group intercepted by the swing of yarn guides M, O, Q, and S, which are raised, whereas in courses 6 and y it is only two spaced needles, disposed at the left of the'group intercepted by the swing of yarn guides L, N, P,.and R, which areraised. In courses d and e the yarn'guides operated are swung to draw out yarn from left to right. In courses -jand q the yarn guides operated are swung to draw out yarn from right to left. In theforma- '58 to theinterior of the hollow shaft 36 and In the exemplified thence to the yarn guide I9. The interior diameter of the hollow shaft 30 is made large enough to accommodate an extra yarn which can run directly from the lower end of the shaft to the fabric and so that yarn guided by the guide I9 11 that it is considerably simplified. The shaft 30a on which the yarn guide I9a is mounted has near its upper end a pinion 50a with which there meshes a gear I carrying a pinion I0l with which a gear I 02 carried on a bracket I03 meshes. The bracket I03 carries a portion 51a similar to the portion 51 of the bracket 53 and operated by a set of four cams 50a similar to the cams 59 and operated by discs 13a formed, mounted, arranged and controlled similarly to the discs 13, out having only long nubs, in the present instance. In the present exemplifioatlon the action of cams 59aon the operating arm 51a of the bracket I03 is opposed by a spring I04 so that as soon as the operating arm is freed by its cam it will immediately return to normal position. Thus any swinging movement of the yarn guide I9a resulting from an operation of a cam 59a will be immediately followed by similar swinging movement of the yarn guide We in the opposite direction. The general arrangement of the machine and the elements thereof will be readily understood in connection with the de cri t on of the machine exempl fied in Figs. 1-6. it being noted that similar elements in Fig. 8 are desi nated by similar reference numerals with the addition of the subscript a.

As will be seen a yarn I extends throu h the hollow post 86a to the yarn guide I9a. An extra yarn I06 also extends through the hollow shaft 36a. This does not extend to any yarn guide but extends to the rear of the fabric and may be held thereagainst by the yarn I05. As

act upon the bracket I03 to impart to the hollow shaft 36 a double rotation in the opposite direction. During this double rotation the yarn I05 will be Wrapped around the yarn I06. The yarn I06 can be an elastic yarn, or yarn of some other character or color differing from the charactor or color of the yarn I00 of which the body of the fabric is composed, or from the character will be seen. each time the bracket I03 is operated by a cam 59a, the hollow shaft a will be rotated. The exemplified gearing is such that substantially two rotations will be imparted to the tube 36a due to an operation of a cam 59a. A double rotation in the opposite direction results from the action of the spring I04. This double rotation results in swinging the yarn guide I9a twice around the yarn I05 so that the yarn I05 is wrapped about the yarn I06 as indicated at I01. If the yarn I05 is caught by the needles and incorporated in the fabric intermediate successive portions I01, it will, as will be seen, hold the yarn I06 firmly against the rear of the fabric. In the present instance, certain spaced needles as indicated at I08 are partially advanced by the operation of selective mean such as exemplified in connection with Figs. 1-7 to partially advance the selected needles indicated at I08 to a position in which they. will receive yarn without casting, this operation taking place before the operation of a cam 59a. The operation of the cam 59a then causes the yarn guide I9a to be swung to wrap the yarn around the needles. as shown. The retraction ofthese needles occurs during the time when a cam 59a holds the arm 51a inwardly. Thereupon, when the arm 51a is released from the cam 5911, the spring I04 will or color of the yarn I05. For example, the yarn I09 may be white woolen yarn, the yarn I 05 black woolen yarn, and the yarn I06 elastic yarn, such as a rubber strand, or a rubber-treated fibrous yarn; the yarns I09, I05 and I60 may all be rayon yarns, but the yarn I06 a particularly thick form of yarn; the yarn I09 may be red rayon yarn, the yarn I05 blue rayon yarn and the yarn I06 white cotton yarn; etc.

In Figs. 9 and 10, there is illustrated a modifled form of limited-extent yarn feeding means and operating means therefor adapted for use in a variety of types of machines. but particularly adapted for use in a machine having needles, needle-manipulating means, main yarn feeds and other elements not illustrated, all generally similar to those illustrated in the form of construction exemplified in connection with Figs. 1

through 6. As exemplified in Figs. 9 and 10, there.

is provided a stationary bed 200 serving to support a suitable number of limited-extent yarn feeding means generally indicated at 202. Each such means comprises a pair of coaxial independently-rotatable tubular members 203 and 204; a tubular member 204 being fitted within each tubular member 203. Within each tubular member 204 are two small tubes 205 and 208 through which individual yarns from bobbins such as the bobbins I1. are adapted to extend. From the lower end of the tube 205 a yarn extends to an eyelet 201 in a yarn-guiding element 208 carried on the tube 203; and from the lower end of tube 200 a yarn extends to an eyelet 200 in a yarn-guiding element 2I0 mounted on the lower end of tubular member 204. It is to be noted that the yarn-guiding elements 208 and 2I0 are adjustably mounted by means of set screws 2H and 2I2, so that the distance of the individual eyelets 201 and 209 from the axis of the tubular members 203 and 204 may be individually adjusted, As will be seen, the yarn-guiding element 2I0 is disposed sufliciently beneath the course of the yarn from the tube 205 to the eyelet 201 so that it may be swung entirely independently of the yarn-guiding element 200.

h In this manner different colors or characters of yarn may be suitably interspersed in a fabric.

For example, if a red yarn extends through the eyelet 201, this yarn may be incorporated in a number of courses of the fabric by suitable rotative movements of the tubular member 203 and suitable needle manipulation, and thereafter the blue yarn extending to the eyelet 209 may be incorporated in a number of courses by suitable rotative movements of the tubular member 200 and suitable needle manipulation. It is also possible to closely intersperse the yarns as, by feeding one extent of red. yarn to all or certain of the needles of a group, and, after this is incorporated in the fabric, to feed a blue yarn to all or certain of the needles of this group. Again, when desired, red and blue yarns for example may be fed together by swinging both yarn guiding elements 208 and 2I0 between the time when certain needles are advanced and when they are retracted. In addition, by adjusting one of the yarn-guiding elements 208 and 2I0 so that it will have a swing oi small radius and by adjustingthe other so as to have a swing of large radius, two yarns may be fed together so that there may be a wide be noted that as shown, the eyelet isat a greater distance than the eyelet 209 from their 1 common axis.

In Figs. 9 and 10, there is also exemplified an alternate form of operating means for the auxiliary yarn-feeding means, this being particularly exemplified as adapted to operate an auxiliary yarn-feeding means of the character indicated at 202, but being of a character adapted to provide for certainty and eifectivene'ss of operation regardless of whether dual or single yarn-feeding means are employed and regardless of the par ticular character of the yarn-feeding means. On the upper end of each tubular member 203 there is formed a gear 2l5 which meshes with a rack 2; carried on a slidable element 2!! mounted in a slot in bed 200 for radial sliding movement; and

, at the top of the tubular member 204 at the point above the gear 2|5 there is formed a gear 2|8 meshing with a rack 2!?! carried on a slidable element 220 mounted for radial sliding movement ina slot in the bed 200. Each of the slidable ele ments 2 1 and 220 carries on a rearportion thereof a rocker element 22! pivotally connected therewith at 22! and having at its forward end a portion 222 which may be swung upwardly out or the slot into a position to be engaged by any one of a plurality of cams 223 carried by a rotatable annulus 224 to move the rocker and its accompanying slidable element outwardly.

Each of the slidable element 2!! and 220 carries a butt 225 adapted to fit into a' groove 220. in

the rotatable annulus 224. Diverging from the groove 225 at each point where a cam 223 is operative is a branch groove 22'! into which the butt 225 on a slidable element 2!! or 220, as the case may be, maybe moved whenever it, having been selected, is moved outwardly by the cam 223 (see Fig. 10). At a suitable-laterp'oint the groove 22! is curved inwardly as indicated at 220 so as to merge with the groove 226 at 230, thus aligning all of the butts 225. It will be noted that as long as the butt 225 of a slidable element remains in the inner groove 226, the slidable element will impart no movement to the tube 203 or the tube 204, as the case may be; but as soon as a rocker 22! is selected and engaged by the cam 223 movement of one of the tubular members 203 or 204 in one direction will be caused, and when the butt 225 reaches the groove portion 229 a movement of the slidable element in the opposite direction will automatically be caused. Accordingly in this instance a two-directional yarn-feeding movement of the eyelet 201, or the eyelet 209, as the case may be, will result.

In order to select suitable ones of the slidable elements 2!! and 220, each of some or all of the rockers 22! is provided at its rearward portion with one-or more teeth 23! suitably disposed in one or more of four positions. These teeth, when the rearward portions of the rockers are elevated (by the action of a cam 24! carried by the annulus 224 and serving to press the forward portion 222 of the rockers downwardly), are adapted to project into a groove 233 in the bed 200. In order to selectively act upon the teeth to swing suitable ones of the rockers so as to permit the cam 223 to push such rockers and their accompanying'slid lower surface holes 23'! in a rotatable drum 238. Thus, when a cam 234 has been pressed downwardly into the groove 233 by a Pin 236, it will contact a tooth 23! on a slidable element, provided there is such a tooth in the path of travel of this cam on the particular-rocker to swing the rocker; but when a cam is not depressed by a pin 235 a rocker will not be swung even though it has a tooth in a position aligned with this cam. It will be seen that the drum is formed with a series of sets of four holes 231 throughout its periphery, and that successive ones of these sets may be brought into a position in which any pins therein will contact the upper surface of the cams 224 to depress them when. the drum is rotated step by step. In order to accomplish this step-by-step movement, the drum is provided with a ratchet 240 engaged by a pawl on a lever 24! which is operated by means hereinafter exemplified. A cam 24! restores the rockers prior to selection.

In the present instance, the bed 20? is mounted on an annulus 242 which is freely supported on a rotating annulus 243 which is. mounted on posts 244 corresponding to the posts I4, and which carries an annular bracket 245 which in turn carries the annulus 224. The annulus 243 is freely supported on a stationary annulus 246 carried by vertical supports 24'!. The annuli 242 and 246 carry internal annular gear 248 and 249, with both of which a plurality of gears 250 carried by the rotating annulus 243 mesh, thus serving to hold the annulus 242 and the bed 200 stationary. The rotating annulus 243 is provided with bores 25! through which main yarns as from bobbins corresponding to the bobbin 28 may be conducted to main yarn feeds corresponding to the ever, that the main in certain instances,

yarn reeds may be omitted or, if provided, some or all of them may be left without yarn in certain cases. The lever 24! is suitably mounted on. one end of a rod 252 rotatably carried by an element 253 on the annulus 245, so that a partial rotation of the rod 252 will cause a single-step advancement of the drum 238. Fixed on the other end of the rod 252 is an arm 254, the free end of which traverses a path into which an abutment 255 carried in a stationary mounting may be moved at certain times in accordance with the operation of a pattern chain in a manner well known in the art.

It is to be noted that the yarn-guiding element 2!!) is adjustably mounted by means including a set screw H2, and comprises a member 251 in which the eyelet 209 is formed. The member 257 is specially formed so as to provide a long curved in order to assure that when this crosses a yarn extending to the eyelet 227 in the yarn guide 208 it will slide over this yarn and as sure against tangling of this yarn with its own yarn. The eyelet me, as will be seen, is formed in a projection on the outside of the member 257 and is'in'the form of a vertical bore, the yarn entering the upper portion of this bore as it comes from the tube, and leaving the eyelet at the bottom of the bore to further assure against tan gling. The yarn guide 208 is adjustably mounted by means including a set screw 2! Land the member 259, which extends downwardly a suitable distance and has the eyelet 201 formed. on its lower end, also includes a bulging portion 260 over which its yarn extends after passing through a supplemental eyelet 26L whereby yarn tangling is further guarded against.

In Figs. 11-15 there is disclosed an arrangement generally similar to that of Figs. 9 and 10 but with various modifications. The yarn guides, which are spaced so that their swings overlap, are single instead of dual; the needles are advanced to engaging position for reception of yarn from the yarn guides; means are provided for preventing yarn from the yarn guides catching beneath the latches when the yarn therefrom is fed to the needles; and means are provided for providing slack in the yarn when it is fed to the needles by a swing of the yarn guide which passes in front of the needles in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cams. Other modifications are included as will be seen from the drawings and as indicated below. In the showing of Figs. 11-15. the parts not specifically referred to below, including those not shown, are generally similar to those of the exemplification of Figs. 9 and 10 (including parts shown in the exemplification of Figs. l-6 which as above indicated are to be understood as included in the machine of Figs. 9 and 10); and bear reference numerals similar to those of corresponding parts in Figs. 9 and 10 with the addition of the subscript b, and where parts are shown not appearing in Figs. 9 and 10 but appearing in Figs. l-6, similar parts bear reference numerals similar to those of corresponding parts in Figs. 1-6 with the addition of the subscript b.

In this form of construction, yarn-guiding members 2 ltb are operated by means of slidable elements 22% carrying racks Zlfib which mesh with gears 2581) on the top of tubular elements 2114b. A yarn extends through each tubular element 2Mb-tubes corresponding to the tubes 205 and 296 of Fig. 10 being omitted.

The selected needles are fully advanced for reception of yarn from a yarn guide 2l0b at selected times when the same is to be swung. If desired, of course, the needles may be unadvanced at certain of such times and the yarnguide swung without feeding, as, for example, when it is desired to swing it in one direction without action. At each point where the needles are to be fully advanced there is provided a cam 265 following a cam 41b and acting to further advance the needles to fully advanced position, these cams 265 being provided in the present instance, in advance of each cam 2232i and in advance of each cam surface 22%. It is to be noted that the cam 2232) and the cam surface 2"!)1) are further spaced than in the case of the machine of Figs. 9 and 10, this being due to the use of a drum selection in connection with the incorporation of the main yarn, as will appear hereinafter. The selection in advance of each cam 265 will be such that all of the needles of certain groups will be selected at such points. It will be appreciated that the cams 265 may be disposed at some points and not at others and that the selection may be varied for making difierent ones of a variety of fabrics, but the particular selection indicated above is exemplified in Figs. 12c and 12b. In the present instance also, only two drums out of three are utilized for positioning the needles for reception of yarn during the swinging of the yarn guides and the third drum is utilized for the selection in advance ofa main yarn feed. As particularly exemplified, moreover, yarn is omitted from two out of three of the main yarn feeds shown, and the drums provide a selection such that spaced needles or groups of needles are selected and partially advanced by a cam 41b for inlaying the main yarn where it may be present. The selection of the slidable elements 22017 carrying racks 2191) is such, in the present instance, that alternate racks will be selected at a passage of one set of selecting means including a drum 3381) and that the remaining racks will be selected at a passage of another set of selecting means including a drum 338D. The needle selection by those drums which select needles for reception of yarn during the swing of the yarn guides is such, and the needles advanced at certain operations of a given yarn guide are so chosen that one or more needles at the end of a group will be advanced at certain times and not advanced at other times so that the fabric will be securely tied together by an overlapping of certain of the successive series of knitted loops.

While, as exemplified in Figs. 11-15 the selection is such as to leave a clear space for the swing of the operated yarn guides beyond the ends of the groups of advanced needles, the yarn guides are so constructed as to facilitate their swing between needles in cases in which all, or a large number of, the needles are advanced as for example, in Fig. 16. This is desirable in instances when all the yarn guides are to be swung, or when two adjacent yarn guides are to be swung in immediate succession. This yarn guide construction is in the form of a vertical strip 266 (see Fig. 15) having a central vertical portion of only suflicient thickness so that a vertical bore 251 for conducting a yarn may be formed therein and with its outer portions tapering to sharp or narrow edges 268 and 269 which will easily enter the space between the needles and spread them, if necessary, to permit passage of the yarn guide therethrough. The yarn from the tube 2134b enters the upper portion of the bore 261 through an opening 210 in an arm 21!, the opening 210 being higher than the uppermost position of the needles.

There is exemplified in Figs. 12a and 121) one form of cam arrangement for giving the particular operation indicated above. The cams at P raise selected needles (in this case alternate ones of all the needles) to a partially advanced position for-reception of yarn from the main yarn feed 3412 shown in the upper portion of Fig. 121) and retract them. The cams at Q fully advance selected needles (all the needles of certain groups) for reception of yarn during the operation of alternate yarn guides 2I0b and retract them. The cams at R repeat the action at P, but since the main yarn feed at this point carries no yarn in the present instance, there is no yarn reception. The cams at S fully advance selected needles (all of the needles of the intermediate groups) for reception of yarn during the return operation (by the cam 22%) of the alternate yam guides 2 "lb operated at Q and retract these needles. At T the selection at P is again repeated but since the main yarn feed shown in the upper portion of Fig. 12a carries no yarn in the present instance, there is no yarn carried by this yarn feed in the exemplified arrangement.

In the exemplified operation the aforementioned alternate yarn guides feed to certain groups of needles an advance yarn which is knitted and then to the same groups a return were; me

yarntwhicnlisskmtted, andnatsa succeeding selection the ffintermediates.yarn guides rjjfeed ipto the needlessof intermediate: groups -.;an:-.advance yarn which..is, ;knittedaand :then .a :return; yarn which is thereaftenqknitted. gThe iicertainfiand the ffintermediate;gnoupsutogether comprisetall the; needles .of. ,thegseries. about .the machine. the .wilLbe understood; partsiof::twoerowstofioopslare thus; first formed-and then: the apartsgibetween them are.filled in;afterqwhichamain yarn i iincorporated in the iabricebyalaying-iiioperation By provision of cams: 265aat R...and'.lT,;-. however,

' and .the provisionxeof vyarns rinxthe main .ryarn feeds. at these points, and a selection of. the needles of. the intermediate. groups atthese points; aamain yarn maytbe. used-.itorlfill intthel gaps rattan-each knitting; in response .toiaefeeding by; an alterhate, yarn feed, and by. the-similar provision of yarn and. a similar. selectioniat other main yarn feeds, the same result'smambe obtained after the operationof the ffintermediatehyarn: guides following. arfurther -.selection,-. giving four rows of loops insteadaof two. illrnanyu case, however, it is desirable x to havencanaoverlap of certain of I the parts of rewsincertain counsesto'hold the fabric together. In the present instance," the selection of groups of; needles is shifted 'five needles-in one direction.- for the: advanceand: return operatiohs following a pair of yarn guide-: selectionswhich result :in: thelaoperation of the alternate" and-intermediate xyarn eguides, l and "the selection of group .of needles is shifted five needles in the opposite direction for the advance and return operations following :the :second pair of yarn guide selectionsiwhich' result in theoperation-of alternate =and :intermed-iate yarn guides. One SuCh ,-Shift :will ha-veoccurred previously to-"the operation indicated eta- 285.

In instancesswhen all the yarn-guides are operated pursuant: to a single selection (as i when the-yarn guides ass between raised-needles- 'as indicated .by. :one. or amore: needles may occur every "row. The shifting may .aalsofhe such' as to produce a diagonal fabric (1 e., sh-i-fting whioh is continu ouslythe same idirection rather 1 than recip rocal'.)

indicated .a generally '.;by *referencenumeral 2 l 2. Thiswincludes a bracket-273 screwed onto'the sinker lcam ring llb ata suitable point and carrying at itszinner end an elongated arcuate strip 214 whichpasses inside' the needles for a sufficient distance sovthat the yarn guide will complete, its swingzand the. needles will be retracted by a retracting'camI49bzwhile the member 214 is passing. A yarn from:the iabricthus extends up over the memberiZl l and-around the advanced needles and passes once more over the member'l'l l backto the yarn guide, as indicated in..F'lg'.'14, sotthat the yarn is properly positioned zonthe-needles. In order to'further assist .in maintaining the yarn'in correct position during: the *swing of auyarn guide, the-re is also removablyascrewed on the sinker cam ring llbta plate? having anarcuate edge extendingnutside the needles at the point-where the yarn guideswingstandthaving an upper surface at thesame level as theupper surface of the arm 2l4. Preferably, and. as shown, this upper j surface is substantially aligned "with or slightly 1 Numerous other: variations of selection :of-oper- ,ation will ".be =::apparent1- to those skilled in the art.

ASzfibOVE indicatedpmoreover; the :varioustyarn feeds andlcams hare; removable and replaceable so 1 that a wide ':variety :of'lfabrics maybe: produced without enyxrsubstantial modification in the machine.

.In the: form; of machines of Figs. L 11-16: there is provided meansywhich. is especially desirable for: use when: yarnrguidesrareaswung about the fully advanced :needles,:to-prevent the:yarn;from getting belowpthe latches"of-xtherneedles. As 'will be. seenfrom Fig.1 1 Lathe yarneeXtending-from the. fabric. to; the; yarn iguide isnconsiderablyxbelow the lowermost-point LiOf the hatches :when t t-he needles arecfullyl advanced. Tozassure thatrthis yarndoes notgetbeneatm and. behindthel'latches instead of being fedrlto; theneedlesuponror :above the latches, sonas: to? beincorpocated :innthe; fabric, there are1providedrremovably: mounted units disposed: at each epoint :where .22 yarn :guide: is toybe swung, :and :includingzza.memberuextending inside the needles: inesuchwpositionr.and ifltg; such height that :as .;the yarn is; swung rthe yarnvwi-ll extend over-the rmembervat a height zsuchathateit will *be 'properlyzreceived ibyi-rthe .azneeclles. Qne such unitriscshownainQFigs. =,12:b'-.-1anc1 ;14=;and; sis

below the .pivot point of the latches-of the needles v:when fully advanced. Units :212 are adapted to be disposed-at pointswhere the yarn guides will have .imparted thereto-aforward I swing-i. e.,-.a: swing:such that the yarn guide passes'in front of the needles in the same directionas the main yarn feed moves.

Similar units :may be usedat pointswhere the yarn guideslswing inn reverse directio-nin certain instances; but, :where a considerable number-of needles are fully advanced, problems arise due to the l fact that the advanced needle last assed by the yarn guide in itsswing is the first tobe retractediby -the retracting cam; and consequently when theneedles last retracted by the retracting-oam are retracted the yarmextending from the yarnguide will have beenfirmly bound in" the'fabric so that there is no slack left for-the formation .of loops by the needles last retracted by the retracting cam. This difficulty applies in a :large' number of instances when means-movable in-onedirection in front of 'fullvgdvanced needleslays yarn against the same andretractingmeans thereafter retracts the advanced-needles beginning with the advanced needlelast passed by movable meansand ending with the advanced needle first passed by movable means; and, as will be apparent, this feature of the invention his :readily applicable to such :situations. :Inlorderxto '.lOVel3C0m6 i.,this .difiiculty,there is; provided an arrangement which is :incorporatedinaarunit; indicated-generally at 2 16 in Fig. ..12a-and, disp osed f'ati azpositioni; where the yarnguides performxtheir reversewmovement. .This unit, last shown.- in Figs. .12a,':an"d..13, ccomprises ;a; bracket 5.2 1.1; removably screwed-1: on ithe sinker camrxring I! b .and; carrying .an.-;arm.;2l8 having an JIDDBI sur ace eat :;the; :sa-me level ras the upper surface ,;of :the @arm i274 and :of ithe plates} 15. ."Anzadditionalaone of said; plates is,;;as -wil1,;be seen; disposed- ;outward,1y;;0f thearm 218. They armx.i218,,.-;besides; vbeingpositioned at .ia; level such that.;it: Will; serve the, samemurpose as, the arm, 2ll,-.,is; resiliently mounted: so ithatthe normal position 7, of n the part-..thereof ,past .whiclrthe yarn guide swings will ;be :a. considerable .dis-

tance inwardlyaof l the :needles, hut -,so ;-that ,the yarn,.as, the, tension: thereon, increases .due .to :the action :of 1 a: retracting scam 491;, will 1 yield :and be, drawn outwardlvtowardnthe; needlesisoz that the 5 slack :provided 1'QS;='2;1 I1 515 drawn over 1 :the arm :-,during; the swing .,Df 1 the yarn guide will 

